4/3/23

Top 20 RHP on Draft - #3 - Hurston Waldrep - Florida


 Hurston Waldrep

RHP Florida

2021 Southern Miss stat line - 17-ST, 6-2, 3.20, 1.16, 90-OIP, 140-K

2022 Florida stats as of

 

3-3-23 - Keith Law’s MLB Draft 2023 Rankings: -

#10 Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida

Another big transfer into the SEC, Waldrep came to the Gators from Southern Miss, boasting one of the best changeups in the entire draft class. It comes in at 86-88 mph, gets close to the hitter’s bat, and just dies, usually taking the hitter with it. He sits 94-96 and has touched 99, letting the changeup help make the four-seamer more effective, while he barely uses his curve or slider since they’re nowhere near as effective as the changeup, and all three offspeed pitches break mostly north-south. That changeup could carry him a long way.

 

2-6-23 - Prospect Live - Top 100 Prospects -

12. Hurston Waldrep

Right-Handed Pitcher, Florida

Waldrep transferred out of Southern Miss to Florida for his junior year after some impressive undergrad campaigns. The fastball gets up to 99 with immense hop at the top of the zone and true bat-missing qualities. The slider is thrown firm and short with late two-plane tilt that Waldrep gets hitters to chase regularly. The curveball may have the most potential of all his secondaries, but landing it for strikes consistently has come and gone. He's also flashed an above average splitter, though it's inconsistent both in shape and execution. Waldrep has a super-athletic frame with well-proportioned strength and a wicked quick arm. He's a true power pitcher with a bulldog mentality on the bump.

 

1-2-23 - Hurston Waldrep set to make an impact for Florida baseball

https://www.wruf.com/headlines/2023/01/02/hurston-waldrep-set-to-make-an-impact-for-florida-baseball/ 

Waldrep is a 6’2 right-handed pitcher from Thomasville, Georgia. He played his first two years of college baseball at Southern Miss on its pitching staff. In his freshman season, he was used primarily in relief but got the nod as a sophomore to transition into a starting role.

 

That year, he posted a 6-2 record with a 3.20 ERA and had 140 strikeouts. Those numbers earned him an invite to play in the Netherlands with the USA national collegiate baseball team during the summer.

 

While he was busy pitching with the stars and stripes across his chest, talks of Waldrep becoming a Gator rose. Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan flew to the Netherlands to see what could be in store for his team, and it paid off.

 

Waldrep is now settled at the University of Florida but the one thing in his life that hasn’t changed — his Omaha mindset.

 

12-14-22 - Sox Machine

WAY-TOO-EARLY 2023 MLB MOCK DRAFT

https://soxmachine.com/2022/12/way-too-early-2023-mlb-mock-draft/

16. San Francisco Giants: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida

Waldrep is a 6-2, 205-pound righty with a plus slider and a fastball that touches 98 mph. He shows arm speed from a high slot and Farhan Zaidi likes drafting college players.

 

12-15-22 - 2023 MLB Mock Draft:

https://www.oddschecker.com/us/insight/baseball/mlb/20221215-2023-mlb-mock-draft-an-early-ranking-of-the-top-50-2023-mlb-draft-prospects 

9. Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida

Waldrep is a high strikeout thrower, getting so many batters to chase out of the zone for strikeouts. He's a guy who will scream and get pumped up after ending an inning. Those types of pitchers are enjoyable for fan bases.

 

12-12-22 - 2022 Fall Report: Florida -

https://d1baseball.com/fall-report/2022-florida/ 

Southern Miss transfer Hurston Waldrep, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior righthander who went 6-2 with a 3.20 ERA for the Hattiesburg Regional champion Golden Eagles. Waldrep, with high-90s velocity and two quality secondary offerings, struck out 140 batters in his 90-innings pitched.

 

Waldrep, D1Baseball’s 14th top college prospect entering the season, comes in as one of the most significant transfers in the sport. Adding a high-profile transfer to a talented roster can be challenging. How has the adjustment to Gainesville gone thus far?

 

12-9-22 - 2023 MLB MOCK DRAFT 1.0

https://throughthefencebaseball.com/2023-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-pirates-taking-who/

7. Cincinnati Reds: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida

If you’ve followed my mock drafts, you know I’m always high on Florida pitchers. The Gators could be considered ‘Pitcher University’ with the names they’ve produced the past 20 years. Enter latest ace, Hurston Waldrep. He’s a right-handed gem with a plus-plus fastball and a mid-80s slider with a devastating break hitters hate to go up against. His changeup could use some work but this kid has one of the highest ceilings of any player in this draft.

 

12-8-22 - Five 2023 MLB Draft prospects for Marlins to consider with top pick - https://www.fishstripes.com/23497553/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-marlins -

 

3. RHP Hurston Waldrep

 

The first pitcher to mention on this list is Florida Gators right-hander Hurston Waldrep.

 

Waldrep is a 6’1”, 205-pound righty who had an excellent career for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles before transferring to Florida. During his time at Southern Miss, Waldrep posted a 7-2 record with a 3.22 ERA in 28 appearances and 17 starts. As a sophomore, Waldrep became the Saturday starter for the Golden Eagles and went 6-2 with a 3.20 ERA, 14 K/9, 1.16 WHIP, and struck out 140 batters in 90 innings pitched. He finished his 2022 season as an All-American.

 

Waldrep possesses a four-pitch mix that’s highlighted by his mid-to-upper 90s fastball. He touched 98 mph last season and has a devastating slider that gets plenty of whiffs. He’s a power arm with two plus pitches and draws some comparisons to Marlins prospect Max Meyer.

 

 

12-7-22 - MLB DRAFT 2023: WINTER'S MOCK DRAFT - https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/PBR/MLB-Draft-2023-Mock-Draft-First-Edition-4397815602?s=03 -

 

14

Red Sox

Hurston Waldrep

RHP

Florida; Thomasville HS (GA)

With a fastball that sniffs triple digits and a hammer for a breaking ball, the Southern Miss transfer is a strong year in the SEC away from the top half of the first round.

 

12-6-22 - 2023 MLB DRAFT - MOCK DRAFT 2.0 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022-mlb-mock-draft-n78w7-st9r4-wa35p-2n5ls-8addg-ed27s?s=03 -

 

11. Los Angeles Angels

Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida

 

Waldrep, a transfer from Southern Miss, is a bulldog on the mound with an intimidating presence and the pure stuff to back it up. It’s a double-plus fastball, up to 98 with big ride and significant bat-missing qualities. He offers a mid-80s slider with two-plane break and tunnel that’s given righties fits. There’s a solid average changeup in there too, though he’s yet to really unleash it with much regularity. The Angels need pitching and this would be a big get.

 

11-4-22 - 2023 MLB Mock Draft 1.0 - https://www.perfectgame.org/articles/View.aspx?article=21422 -

19. Tampa Bay Rays | Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida

 

The Rays’ pitching factory is well-documented at this point and Waldrep offers monster stuff with a monster ceiling that the Rays would be well-equipped to help realize. Waldrep, a transfer from Southern Miss, will sit in the upper-90s in short stints, showing a double-plus slider and a changeup that is a weapon. He’s a big-stuff right-hander that doesn’t always throw strikes but has a similar profile to arms the Rays have acquired in the past like Nick Bitsko and Tyler Glasnow. -VC

 

11-28-22 - 2023 MLB Draft: College Top 100 Prospects - https://d1baseball.com/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-college-top-100-prospects/ -

 

14 Hurston Waldrep RHP Florida SEC

 

11-12-22 - 2023 MLB Draft – Top 50 College Prospects -

https://www.prospects1500.com/mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-top-50-college-prospects/ 

 

12. Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida – The unquestioned ace of the Southern Miss staff a season ago, Waldrep transferred to Gainsville for this season where he will try to repeat his impressive 14 K/9 ratio against elite college talent. His fastball sits 94-96 although I like his slider and change better than the fastball. The offspeed offerings have true plus potential and he used them to notch six straight Ks in his start in the regionals a season ago. There is a ton of late effort in his delivery, which is the only reason he is not in the top 10 right now, as there is real risk he winds up in a bullpen long term.

 

11-4-22 - Perfect Game 2023 MLB Mock Draft 1.0 -

 

https://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=21422&src=hmrep&s=03  

 

19. Tampa Bay Rays | Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida

 

The Rays’ pitching factory is well-documented at this point and Waldrep offers monster stuff with a monster ceiling that the Rays would be well-equipped to help realize. Waldrep, a transfer from Southern Miss, will sit in the upper-90s in short stints, showing a double-plus slider and a changeup that is a weapon. He’s a big-stuff right-hander that doesn’t always throw strikes but has a similar profile to arms the Rays have acquired in the past like Nick Bitsko and Tyler Glasnow. -VC

 

10-29-22 - Kyler Peterson @KPetersonPG

 

An extended look at RHP Hurston Waldrep... FB was 96-99 w/ carry over 2 frames. ++ SL 86-87 w/ shape like hammer CB, also threw separate CB at 83-84 as well. Great athlete, also showed solid SPL at 88-90

 

10-19-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022/1/15/2023-mlb-draft-prospects-fx4td?s=03 -

 

Hurston Waldrep

Right-Handed Pitcher, Florida

 

Waldrep transferred out of Southern Miss to Florida for his junior year after some impressive undergrad campaigns. The fastball gets up to 99 with immense hop at the top of the zone and true bat-missing qualities. The slider is thrown firm and short with late two-plane tilt that Waldrep gets hitters to chase regularly. The curveball may have the most potential of all his secondaries, but landing it for strikes consistently has come and gone. He's also flashed an above average splitter, though it's inconsistent both in shape and execution. Waldrep has a super-athletic frame with well-proportioned strength and a wicked quick arm. He's a true power pitcher with a bulldog mentality on the bump.

No comments: